My engine will idle all day long and strong as can be, however soon as its put into drive it will cut off. What is it that keeps an engine running after its been put into gear...

If I drive the truck ever time i come to a stop i have to put it into neutral, then to get going again i have to give it a small amount of gas and shift to drive to start rolling.

Any Ideas would be a great help...



Maybe this info will help...
1979 Ford F-150
351m/400 6.6L
Motorcraft 2150 Carb (reman)
All fuel lines have been replaced, new fuel pump and filter, new sending unit and gas tank.

 

Is the idle turned down to low?

 

No. I can have it anywhere between 650-1800 and it still shuts off when its put into gear.

 

I will also say this. I doubt its related bu my right rear wheel cylinder keeps leaking. I've replaced it twice and both continue to leak. I've got new hardware kits in there all new brake lines front to back. new front calipers. Pads and shoes. New hoses. New proportioning valve. The only thing not new is the power brake booster and master cylinder....

 

I don't know if it's your particular problem, but you might want to look at the torque converter. Not familiar with the automatics, but sounds like the converter is staying locked. When you do drive it, how does it shift? Check your vacuum and timing, as well.

 

It seems to shift just fine. After I put the engine in it wouldn't shift at all because I had failed to hook he vacuum line to the shift modulator. But once I did that it shifts fine. As for the timing I started to check that yesterday but it got dark and I have no fan shroud so I gave up on that... wanted to keep my hands. ill check it again tomorrow morning. But to be honest the timing seems fine. I will also say this though. When I manually close the choke plate the engine revs higher is that normal? I would think it should bog down or even cut off.

As for checking the timing, is there any correct way to do that?... I always just hold the light to the crankshaft and turn the distributor until its at 6* btdc.

Thanks again.

Edit: Way later down the road I saw I never posted the answer, I didn't want to bump this because its so old, so I'm just doing an edit so if any one stumbles on it they will know that it was in fact the Torque Converter...